History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 39

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co.
Number of Pages: 698

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The committee farther report, that they caused the con- tractors to put iron grates in the transom windows over the two doors below, and for which they will be entitled to a reasonable and fair extra price as these grates were omitted to be put in the original contracts. The jail was soon after " received " and the contractors were paid an extra compeu- sation of $440.00."

The friends of temperance at Upper Alton, prevailed on the court to make the following order : All applicants for license to sell ardent spirits must first produce a petition signed by a majority of the residents of the respective justice's district, where such a grocery is to be opened. This order was soon after so modified that in case a majority of the voters of any justice's district should file a remonstrance against granting licenses, then no such license should be granted.

The members of the court were leaning a little towards the keepers of dram shops and tipplers by putting all the labor of getting the signatures of the people on the other side. The citizens of Upper Alton, 220 in number, however, filed their solemn protest against granting liquor license in their town.

Election of 1847, John A. Prickett, recorder ; Henry K. Eaton, probate judge ; E. M. West, school commissioner; Matthew Gillespie, treasurer and assessor, and James G. Anderson, county commissioner.

The state convention called by act of legislature for the purpo e of framing a new constitution, convened at Spring- field, June 7, 1847; Madison county was represented by VE. M. West, Cyrus Edwards, Benaiah Robinson and George T. Brown.

The labors of the delegates were completed by the 31st of August, 1847, and the proposed constitution was ra- tified, by the people at the special election of March 6, 1848. Section 10 of article III of said constitution divided the state into 25 senatorial, and 54 representative districts. Madison and Clinton counties formed the 6th senatorial ; and Madison alone the 20th representative district, which district was entitled to two representatives.

155

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

TWENTY-SECOND BOARD 1847-48.

I. B. Randle, W. B. Reynolds and J. G. Anderson, county commissioners. J. G. Anderson died soon after his election ; he had attended but one term of the court .* At the October Special term of the board, the following entry was made on the county records :

" Whereas J. G. Anderson, Esq., one of the members of this court has since the last adjournment thereof (Sept. 11, 1847) departed this life. Therefore iu token of respect and regard for our deceased colleague and associate. Resolved, that while we bow with humble submission to the will of Heaven in the removal of our colleague from our midst; we deeply regret his untimely end; that in the death of James G. Anderson the county of Madison has lost an able, im- partial and enegetic officer, and the community a valuable and worthy citizen ; that we deeply sympathize with the family and friends of the deceased in their bereavement ; that the clerk of this court forward to the family of the deceased a copy of these resolutions and also cause them to be pub- lished in the newspapers of the county."

The first official report in reference to the working of the poor-house was made in March, 1847, as follows :

"By request of the Hon. County Commissioners, I hereby submit the following statistics of the Madison county poor- house, in Edwardsville, from each establishment, January 1, 1844, to the present time, a period of 3 years and 2 months. There have been admitted into said house, and re- ceived medical treatment, since its establishment, 23 of in- termittent and 17 of bilious fever, 15 of chills and fever, 13 of primary or secondary syphilis, 8 of pneumonia, 6 of conges- tive fever, 6 of typhus fever, 4 of fever sores, 4 of diarrhoea, (the Dr. wrote diarea), 4 of dropsy, 4 of paralysis, 4 of rheu- matism, 3 of neuralgia, 3 of dyspepsia, 3 of scrofula, 2 of con- vulsions, 2 of ophthalmia, 2 of hypochondria, 1 of nasal hem- orrhage, 1 of powder burn and 1 of cancer of the stomach ; in all 126. Of these, 83 were males and 43 females, 72 were Americans, + 19 German3, 14 Irish, 12 English, 4 Norwegians, 3 Africans, 1 Swiss and 1 Italian. 15 were under ten years of age, 24 between the ages of ten and twenty years, 26 over twenty and under thirty, 19 over thirty and under forty, 25 over forty and under fifty, 12 over fifty and under sixty, and 5 over sixty years of age. Of the above, 15 have died ; 2 of pneumonia, 2 of congestive fever, 2 of dropsy, 2 of diarrhea, 2 of intermittent fever, 1 of syphilis, 1 of scrofula, 1 of cancer of the stomach, 1 of convulsion and 1 of paralysis. 104 have been discharged and 7 are at present under medi- cal treatment in the house. Most of those who died were received into the house in the last stage of their disease,

* James Squire was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death of J. G. Anderson, November, 1847.

+ In 1844 and 1845, in consequence of the inundation of the Ameri- can bottom, several families were compelled to resort to the poor house, which very much inereased the American panpers. Since January 1, 1846, there have been received into the poor house 22 foreigners and 17 Americans, which is about the usual average. J. II. W.

some living only one or two days after their arrival, and little or no medical relief could be given them.

During the last year-March, 1846 to March, 1847- forty-three different persous have found refuge in the poor house, some for a longer and some a shorter period, staying in all 2493 days. The year average is therefore about 7. As far as I can ascertain, at least one-half of the whole nun- ber received into the poor house have been brought to th ir dependence directly or indirectly by intoxicating drinks.

There have been some complaints in reference to the dict in the poor house, and here I deem it due to the superinten- dent to say that I have found it very difficult to restrain patients in a convalescent state from over eating, and thereby causing relapses. Many are not satisfied if they are not per- mitted to indulge freely in any article of food they desire. A bill of diet was made out two years ago, under the direc- tion of the county commissioners and since sanctioned by the new commissioners and to which the superintendent has strictly adhered, unless restricted by myself to patients un- der medical treatment, and as individuals are not permitted to remain at the house after they have recovered their health, there is, of course, but a short time that any one can be in- dulged in the free use of food with impunity, and I am con- fident this is the whole ground of complaint, and this too, for the ' best good' of the inmates.

JOHN H. WEIR, Agent P. II."

Edmardsville, March 1, 1847.

The old election precinct, known as Indian Creek pre- cinct, had its name changed to Rattan's Prairie, with the poll at the "Bethel " school-house, and a new precinct had been organized from parts of Silver creek, under the name of White Rock, June, 1847. The county was, March, 1848, divided into fifty-niue road districts, officered as follows :

E. C. Hall,

George Smith,

C. P. V. Ransom, S. B. Gillham,

· B. W. Finch, Isaac Smith,

W. Chambers, W. T. Brown,

Richard Young,

Godfrey Akerman,

Ab. Preuitt, Schuyler Carlton,

E. M. Doyle,

J. A. J. Hunter,

Lancaster Weeks,

J. S. Cottrell,

James Best,

Joseph Cooper, Jr.,

Samuel II. Voiles,

Solomon Koffer,

P. S. Greening,

John Sommerfield,

W. Thompson,

W. Barnsback,

Chris. Harvard,

George IIedges,

John Kell,

Henry Peters,

Edm. Butler,

Charles Howard,

Caly. Hodgman,

J. A. Giltham,

J. II. Smith,

W. Peters,

Thomas Elliott,

J. A. Cook,

J. II. Apple,

J. B. Swain,

Green Walker,

John 1. Keown,

J. P. Delaplain,

Ebenezer Traver,

John Moore,

Th. B. Savage,

W. E. Newman,

Felix Deith,

Conrad Leseman,

J. W. Hagler,

Henry Morrison,

Milton IIall,

153

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Prostor Stephenson, J. T. Thurston, Thomas Jones, Th. C. Dunnigan,

Timothy Sabin, S M. Smith, Isaac Teeback, Elisha Keeth,

P. S. Calvin.

' During the same term the commissioners bought forty acres of land, near Edwardsville, from Cassius Heskett, for $350, intended for a poor-farm. The county levy for 1848 was forty cents per one hundred dollars of appraised values. The treasurer's account book of 1848 does not mention any revenue from taxation, while the records of the court state that the collector had paid county orders amounting to $3,906.54 into court. The financial affairs of the county were so much entangled that it was absolutely impossible for the writer to have elucidated a correct statement

The process of " funding " county orders payable to bearer-fiat money of Madison county-was going on, and thousands of dollars' worth of these orders were converted into twelve per cent. interest-bearing obligations.

The first election since the adoption of the constitution of the county gave to the county the following officers :

Hon. Joseph Gillespie, Senator of State.

Edward Keating and Curtis Blakeman, Members of the House of Representatives.

Andrew Miller, Sheriff.

William Gill, Coroner.

William Tyler Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court. (The first clerk who held this office by election ; all predecessors were to be appointed by the presiding judges of the court). I. B. Randle, County Commissioner.

TWENTY-THIRD (LAST) BOARD, 1848-9.

W. B. Reynold, Samuel Squire and I. B. Randle.

The labors of the board are now drawing to a close. The constitution of 1849 had abolished the board and substi- tuted a county court, to be composed of a county judge, entrusted with the probate business of the county, and to- gether with two associate justices, to conduct the county government. These officers were elected for terms of four years each. The county affairs were conducted by those county courts from December 1, 1849, to March 1, 1874.

Matthew Gillespie, for years treasurer and assessor of the county, resigned these offices on the 7th of April, 1849. His resignation is worded so pleasantly that it deserves a place in these pages :

" Gentlemen : I herewith resign the office of treasurer of Madison county, state of Illinois, and permit me, gentlemen, to say, that I wish that peace and prosperity may attend the members of the court individually and collectively.

" I remain, Gentlemen, your obedient servant, " M. GILLESPIE.

"Edwardsville, Ill., April 7, 1849."

The court accepted this resignation, and appointed E. S. Brown, treasurer for the balance of Mr. Gillespie's term.

The county contained now (1849) sixteen election pre- cinets, to wit: Edwardsville, Alton, Upper Alion, Monti-

cello, Madison, Six Mill, Collinsville, Troy, Looking Glass, Highland, Saline, Marine, Silver Creek, Omph Ghent, Bethel, (formerly Indian creek and Rattan) and White Rock.

The revenue of 1848, collected in 1849, was not paid into the treasury ; the sheriff converted all funds collected into county orders, which he paid into court direct. The taxes actually collected seem to have amounted to $7,728.38, and the treasurer reports to have received in fines and licenses $578.00. making a total of $8,306.38. The city of Alton contributed also $671.52, her share in the expenses of the county on account of elections and courts. The general impression, that Alton was exempt from helping to support the county government is not based on fact. Alton, it is true, paid no direct county tax, but the county board and the city council agreed annually on the proportional share of the expense to be borne and to be paid by Alton. The treasurer's accounts of the county bear witness that the sums of money so contributed by the city of Alton from 1849 to 1859, amounted in the aggregate to $9,236.59.

The county which, at the time of the adoption of the state organization in 1818, had a population of less than five thou- sand, had now at the adoption of the new constitution, a popu- lation of nearly twenty thousand inhabitants. The public expenses had increased with the population, or had perhaps exceeded it. The financial chaos in 1848 and 1849 had induced the county clerk to venture on an exploration trip through the books, papers and records from 1819 to 1849. The debt of the county was very burdensome, and people had become restive under the load. The clerk's (W. T. Brown's) work remained a fragment, and as such, the writer discovered it. The sheet of paper on which the following figures were written was not intended for an official com- munication, for it is neither dated, addressed nor signed. It merely states the amounts received and expended, without reference to sources, etc. We give an accurate copy, without additions, chauges or corrections :

Buluner agmust

Ycar.

Receipts.

Pavl out.

Bal'ce in treas'y.

treasury.

1819

$1,542 92 .

. $2,168 29 . .

$ 625.37

1820

1,763.55 .

2.404.32 . .

640 77

1821

1,646.28 . . . 3,655.81 . .

2009.53

1822

2,130.22 . . 1,455.87 . .

$674.35.

1×23

2,369.36 . . . 1,263 92 . .

1 105.44 .

1824 )

4,511.61 . . . 8,031.84 . .

3,520.23

1825 }

1826

4,745.29 .

3,645.05 . .

1,100.24 .

1827

1,160.35 . . 1,134.95 . .

25.46 .

1828

2,141.70 . . 1,139.22 . .

1,002.57 .

1829

2,924.61 .

523.05 . .

2.401.56 .

1×30

2,488 16 .

2,489.60 . .

1.44 . .

183t

2,475.60 .

1,887.09 . .

588.51 . . .

1832

2,643.06 .

2,613.01 . .

30.05 . .

1833

3,207.21

2,746.86 . .

460.35 . . .

1834}

1835

4,262.86 .

4,079.40 . .

183.46 .

1836

5,242.74 . . . 4,886.37 . .

361.37 .

1837

5,579.47 . . 4,147.55 . .

1,131.92 .

1838

4,781.86 . . . 5,015.53 . .

1839

5.St1.14 . . . 6,655.9₺ . .

844.80

1×40

5,262.41. . . 5,609.60 . .

340.16

1841

6,377.78 .

. . 5,767.6t . .

610.17 . .

233.67

157

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

Bo'mor avinst

Results. Pail .4.

Bale why.

1×42

6,370.00 . . . 5,915.37 . .

451.63 .

1843

6,033.87 . . . 8,189.72. . 2.155.85

1844

6,583.93 . . . 7,627.68 . .

1,043.75

1845

8,021.13 . . . 6,270.04 . .

1,751.09

1846 8,682.20 . . . 11,212.61 . .

2,530.11

The figures for 1847 and 1848 have been erased, and the work then seems to have been abandoned. The additions would show a total income for those twenty-eight years of $108,767.43, while the expenditures had amounted to $110,839 30, thus leaving a debt of only 82,071.88. The debt of the county was much greater, at any rate not less than 812,000. The figures above do not contain the amount of county orders issued and made payable to bearer, and hence the error. The thought that the " fiat " county order, which served as currency, was an expenditure, and ought to have been added to column of " paid out," never oeeurred to Brown, for how could money be a debt ?

THIE COURTS FROM 1819 TO 1849.

The first constitution of Illinois made it the duty of the legislature, in the first place, to eleet officers of the Su- preme Court, who from that time until 1824, had to attend the courts of the judicial circuits. The first Judges chosen were Joseph Phillips, Chief Justice; Thomas C. Browne, William P'. Foster, and John Reynolds, Associates. Their election took place at Kaskaskia, ou the 8th of October, 1818-some two months before the Congress of the United States had passed on the constitution, under the stipulations of which that election had taken place.

The first business of the circuit court of Madison county, sinee the organization of the state government, was trans- aeted in the

MAY TERM, 1819.

Hon. John Reynolds, on the Bench, Daniel P. Cook, Attorney General, Joseph Conway, Clerk, and W. B. Whiteside, Sheriff.

The first grand jury convened in the county since the organization of the state, was composed of : John McKinney, foreman; Abraham Hyter, William Montgomery, Matthias Handly, John Finley, Jacob Gonterman, Thomas Rattan, John Barber, Robert A. Clair, William Ogle, William Pur- vianee, Joseph Eberman, Ephraim Wood, Joseph Barlett Abraham Preuitt, Joshua Armstrong, Joseph Borough, and Samuel Gillham.

Joseph Conway had been appointed elerk by Judge Rey- nolds, on the 13th of April previously.

The grand jury indicted a number of men for riot and assault and battery ; among the latter Hail Mason. Paris Mason, supervisor, was indicted for failing to work the road in his district. One Peter Yokum was indicted for larceny ; Jean Baptist Coran, a Canadian, was naturalized- having been living in Illinois sinee 1794.

OCTOBER TERM, 1819.

Chief Justice, Joseph Phillips, on the Beneh. David Blackwell officiated as prosecuting attorney in the ah-enee of the attorney general. Rowland P. Allen presided in the

grand jury room. George Sanders having been declared a lunatic " by the jury," his wife Ilannah was appointed con- servator ; the personal property of Sanders was appraised at $2,376.00. Twelve indictments for assault and battery, and three for being a nuisance. Joshua Atwater was fined $100,00. La Fayette Collins was admitted to the bar.

FEBRUARY SPECIAL TERM, 1820.

Presided over by John Reynolds, was ealled on account of a number of robberies having recently been committed. Hail Mason was foreman of the grand jury ; George Let- singer was indicted for larceny, having stolen from one Ashly a linen shirt, valued at $3.00, a pair of woolen pants, worth $5.00, and a book, viz., the 2d volume of the history of England, by J. Bigland, valued at $5,00. All these ar- tieles, with the exception of the pantaloons, had been restored to Ashly. T. W. Smith defended Letsinger. His case was tried before a grand jury composed of John Newman, Mar- tin L. Lindsley, David Roaeh, Dauiel Waggoner, Drury Rowland, Francis Colcan, Angila Loe, Thomas Smith, Solomon Watts, William Jones, Samuel Seybold and Enoel Jones, and found guilty. The Court rendered its " opinion " in the following language :

" It is the opinion of the Court, that the said George Let- singer receive thirty-one lashes on his bare back, well laid on. on Monday next, at 11 o'clock. It is therefore ordered by the Court that the sheriff of Madison county cause the same to be executed on the public square, in the town of Edwardsville, on Monday next, at 11 o'clock."

Willian J. Crane and IIenry Cears were tried at the same term of eourt for lareeny. They had stolen from Philip aud Elward C. Clark $800 in United States notes, an alarm wateh, worth $70, a " eapped " wateh worth $30, a common watch worth $28, another watch valued at $25, nine brass- poeket compasses, worth $18, 8 do. valued at $12, and 10 mag- nets, worth 87.50, 10 magnifying glasses, worth $5. The watehes and the money had been restored to the owners. The defendants were found guilty, and the "opinion" of the court was as above, thirty-one lashes, each, on the bare back, and well laid on.

MAY TERM, 1820.

Joseph Phillips, Chief Justice, presiding. Grand jury returned 39 cases of assault and battery. The usual fine in such eases was $3 00-in exceptional eases $25, 850, and even $100, had to be paid. Ralph Day, who plead guilty to the charge of assault and battery, was let down very easy-his fine was only 61 cents. A ease of fornication presented at this term-the first one in the county, was im- mediately nol pros. There were two eases of selling liquor without lieense .- R. G. Anderson was tried and acquitted, and Nathan Daniel, the other offender, nol. pros. William Bidger had whipped Henry Hay, John Wilson and John Switzer-his fine was heavy, $105.00. George Letsinger, the pantaloon thief of February term, was indicted this time for whipping John Shane; fined 85.00, and given teu days time to pay fine and eost, and if not paid within that time, the sheriff was ordered to sell him, or hire him to the service of any person who would pay fine and costs; the terni of

15.8

HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.

servitude was not to exceed four months. George went to jail. of course, and as he could not, and would not pay the fine, the sheriff executed the order of court. He advertised and offered George for sale, but failed to sell for want of bidders, as stated in his return. The expenses of the pro- ceeding-85 07, were paid by the county in 1821 ;- the voucher is still in existence. Field Bradshaw was another fighter; John T. Lusk held an inquest over his body on the 15th day of February, 1821, without stating hov Field came to his death. This inquest cost the county $13 50.

Among the thirty-nine fighters mentioned above we find the Hon. Theophilus W. Smith, and also David Gillespie, the father of Hon. Joseph Gillespie. The latter had his case tried before a jury comprised of Thomas Gillham-the man that sported a fur hat worth $5.00 and a pair of silver kneebuckles-Jacob Gonterman, Thomas Reynolds, William Moore, George Kinder, Andrew Turner. Hezekiah L. Harris, Jesse Waddle, Joseph B. Tays, Henry Hays, Thomas Cox and John Da- vidson, who found him guilty, and fined him $5.00. Theo- philus threw himself upon the mercy of the court and got off with a nominal fine of 123 cents. Judge Reynolds presided at the next term-October, 1820 when the first divorce case, Polly Bowles vs Matthew Bowles, was tried by the following jury ; Matthias Handly, Isaac Furguson, John Harris, Henry Blanford, John Giger, Ira Bacon, George Barnsback, Abraham Howard, Samuel Delaplain, Alexander Cawley, James Cray and John Wallace.

It was proved that Matthew had a wife living in Kentucky when he married Polly. Divorce was granted and Matthew ordered to give up to Polly all property obtained through her ;-- no fine or other punishment inflicted.

Judge Reynolds presided also at the April and September terms 1821 and 1822. There is nothing of interest to be re- lated, except that W. L. May was indicted for burglary and Jeptha Lampkins for kidnapping, and that James Foley, who had stolen a shovel from Augustus Anson, and Benja- man Roe, who had stolen $15.00 state paper worth $6.90 in specie, from James Love were publicly whipped by Nathan- iel Buekmaster, sheriff, and successor of W. B Whiteside. Each received 15 lashes on bare back, and well laid on.

In March 1833, Hon. Thomas C. Reynolds, chief justice since August 31st, 1822, presided. One Jacob Stump was convicted of larceny and sentenced to 25 lashes, and Charles, a negro, also larceny, to 35 lashes. His case was re-con- sidered on, the court saying : The court not having been ful- ly advised of the statute authorizing punishment in such cases, do re-consider the sentence passed on said defend- ant, whereupon it is considered and ordered by the court that the sheriff defer executing the said sentence until one o'elock P. M. on Monday next, and that the said defendant be whipped forty lashes instead of thirty five .- Barbarous !

The September term 1823 - presided over by Judge John Reynolds, with Thomas Lippincott as foreman of the grand- jury brought several cases of interest, amongst which that of William Parkinson, indicted for forgery, created quite a sen- sation. Even Twiss was indicted for perjury and Jeptha Lamkins for kidnapping. A number of men were indicted for vagrancy, several for nuisance and 21 for fighting. Sep-

tember term 1823 was of no interest. It was soon after suc- ceeded by a special term, held in January, 1824, to try the first murder case in the county. The particulars of this case were as follows :

TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF ELIPHALET GREEN.

First case of infliction of capital punishment in the county. A murder, committed on Christmas Eve 1823, had been the cause of great exeitement. Eliphalet Green, a laborer at Abel Moore's distillery on Wood river, had a quarrel with one William Wright. also in the employment of Abel Moore. During this quarrel, which ended in a fist fight, Green was badly beaten. Half-witted, as he was represented to have been, he became furiously enraged, got his gun and deliberately shot Wright down, as he was retreating to the house. Green, who had at first ran away into the forests, came to the office of Squire Ogle and gave himself up. The squire heard his story, and after examining some witnesses com- mitted Green to jail. This paper and several others refer- ring to the matter have been preserved, and their contents are here introduced.

STATE OF ILLINOIS Madison connty

The people of the state of Illinois to any lawful officer, greeting :

Whereas, Eliphalet Green, distiller of Madison county, having come forward before me on the night of the 24th of December, and delivered up his body as a prisoner of state and acknowledged himself to have shot with a rifle at the body of one William Wright of the county and state afore- said on the 24th inst., about 4 o'clock in the afternoon at the premises of Abel Moore, of the county and state aforesaid, and proof being made that the said Wright is now dead in consequence of said wound, you are hereby commanded to take into your custody the body of the said Eliphalet Green and him safely convey to the jail of the county, the keeper whereof is hereby required to receive and safely keep the body of said Green nntil such time as he shall be discharged agre able to law, fail not as the law directs in such cases. Given from under my hand this 25th day of December, 1823.

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History of Madison County, Illinois With biographical sketches, Part 39

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co. Number of Pages: 698

Author: Brink, W.R. & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Edwardsville, Ill. : W. R. Brink & co.
Number of Pages: 698